QBullet: Imran Khan Writes to Modi; Andhra to Have 5 Deputy CMs

Catch all the top headlines of the day here.

(Photo: The Quint)

1. Let’s Talk, Imran Khan Writes to Narendra Modi

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in a letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Friday, 7 June, said Islamabad wants talks with New Delhi to resolve all reconcilable problems, including the Kashmir issue, according to a media report, a day after India said there will be no bilateral meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek.

In a letter to Mr Modi congratulating him on his second term as the Prime Minister of India, Mr Khan said talks between the two nations were the only solution to help both countries’ people overcome poverty and that it was important to work together for regional development, Geo TV reported.

(Source: Deccan Chronicle)

2. AP CM Jagan Reddy to Have 5 Deputy CMs, to Form New Cabinet Mid-Term

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy announced on Friday, 7 June, that there will be five Deputy Chief Ministers in his 25-member Cabinet, which will be sworn in on Saturday.

Speaking to 151 YSR Congress Party candidates who were elected to the Assembly but have not yet been sworn in and seven MLCs at the second YSR Congress Legislature Party meeting at the Tadepalli party office, Mr Reddy said the Deputy Chief Minister posts would be given to five MLAs-elect belonging to the Backward Classes, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the minorities and Kapus respectively. The Kapu community has been agitating to be included in the Backward Classes.

(Source: The Hindu)

3. Five Years Ago, One of Aligarh Accused Was Booked for Raping His Daughter

One of the men accused in the murder of a two-year-old girl in Aligarh had earlier been arrested for the alleged rape of his own seven-year-old daughter, and was out on bail, police have told The Indian Express.

According to police, the accused (name withheld to protect the identity of a minor victim) had a total of four previous cases pending against him — filed under various IPC sections, including 376 (rape), 354 (assault with intention to outrage modesty of a woman) and 363 (kidnapping). He was accused of raping his daughter in 2014 on the basis of a complaint by a relative. The area SHO said he was granted bail some months later.

(Source: The Indian Express)

4. Can't Allow Army Insignia on Dhoni's Gloves, ICC tells BCCI

Taking a firm stand, the ICC on Friday denied Mahendra Singh Dhoni permission to wear the dagger insignia on his wicket-keeping gloves during the World Cup despite BCCI’s assertion that it was not a military symbol.

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) had sought permission for the star batsman from the world governing body, which eventually cited regulations in denying the permission.

“The ICC has responded to the BCCI to confirm the logo displayed by MS Dhoni in the previous match is not permitted to be worn on his wicket-keeping gloves at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019,” an ICC statement said.

(Source: The Tribune)

5. Mamata Banerjee to Skip ‘Fruitless’ Niti Aayog Meeting

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday, 7 June she will not attend a Niti Aayog meeting slated for 15 June, stressing that the central government’s think-tank has “no financial powers” to support a state’s plans and that it is “fruitless” for her to attend the meeting.

Banerjee’s decision came about a week after she decided not to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony to protest the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s claim that over 50 of its workers were killed in political violence in the eastern state , a charge she described as “untrue”.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

6. 12 Indians Among 17 Killed in Dubai Bus Accident

At least 12 Indians were among the 17 people killed in a horrific bus accident in Dubai when the vehicle, coming from Oman, rammed into a low-clearance sign, police and the Indian mission said on Friday, 7 June.

Nine persons were seriously injured when the driver of the bus, belonging to the Omani bus transport company Mwasalat, wrongly entered a road not designated for buses towards Al Rashidiya metro station on Thursday. Dubai Police authorities said that there are still some unidentified bodies and the number of Indians who died in the accident could increase further.

"With great sadness we inform that Indian fatalities in Dubai bus accident have gone up to 12," Vipul, Indian Consular General in Dubai, tweeted.

(Source: DNA)

7. Kargil Veteran Granted Interim Bail from Assam's 'Foreigner' Detention Camp

Mohammad Sanaullah, a 52-year-old Indian Army retiree who was declared a “foreign national” by a foreigners' tribunal in Assam will be released on bail after a Gauhati High Court order on Saturday, 8 June.

In the order, the court said it was "inclined to grant interim bail" to Sanaullah from the Goalpara detention centre "on a bail bond of Rs 20,000".

Senior Supreme Court advocate Indira Jaising had appeared for the Kargil veteran.

Sanaullah had furnished documents showing that he had served in the Indian Army for 30 years but on 23 May, a foreigners’ tribunal in Boko, Kamrup, declared Sanaullah a "foreign national" who had entered  India after 25-3-1971.

(Source: The Telegraph)

8. Sirisena Wanted Speaker to Scrap Parliamentary Probe

President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday, 7 June, said that he conveyed to the Speaker earlier this week that the ongoing probe into the Easter attacks by a parliamentary panel could hinder court proceedings in the criminal investigations of the bombings.

On Thursday, however, the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) — which was informed of the President’s note — told the Speaker that sittings would continue. In a letter to the Speaker, PSC members said the Parliament is the sole judge of its powers and privileges, and had exclusive jurisdiction over its own proceedings, The Hindu has learnt, from top sources familiar with the correspondence.

(Source: The Hindu)

9. End of May in June: British Prime Minister Formally Steps Down

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday formally stepped down as leader of the governing Conservative party, triggering a contest to replace her that could see her party embrace a tougher stance on Brexit, news agency Reuters reported.

May, who had stepped down amid mounting pressure over her repeatedly defeated Brexit deal, will continue to act as prime minister until the party elects her successor.

(Source: The Indian Express)

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